NominationsHonorees are determined by a jury of experts from fields relevant to its mission of culture and development.
CriteriaThe most important consideration of the jury is the positive effect of a laureate's work on a wider cultural or social field. The Prince Claus Fund interprets culture in a broad sense to encompass all kinds of artistic and intellectual disciplines, science, media and education. Outstanding quality is an essential condition for an award.
Awards presentationThe Principal Award of € 100,000 is presented during a ceremony at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam in December every year. The additional awards of € 25,000 each are presented in the Dutch embassies in the countries where the recipients live in December and January.
The Prince Claus Awards booksEvery year, the Fund publishes a book including the awards speech by one of the Honorary Chairmen, an extract of the lecture by a leading thinker, the jury's report and extensive discussions of the laureates' work by experts qualified in the laureates' fields.
List of previous awards booksTraoré, Aminita; Els van der Plas; Marlous Willemsen; Prince Claus Fund (1998). The Art of African Fashion. The Hague, Netherlands: Prince Claus Fund. ISBN 0-86543-726-2. Plas, Els van der; Albie Sachs (1999). Creating Spaces of Freedom. The Hague, Netherlands: Prince Claus Fund. ISBN 90-76162-04-2. Urban Heroes. The Hague, Netherlands: Prince Claus Fund. 2000. Carnival. The Hague, Netherlands: Prince Claus Fund. 2001. Languages and transcultural forms of expression. The Hague, Netherlands: Prince Claus Fund. 2002. The Survival and Innovation of Crafts. The Hague, Netherlands: Prince Claus Fund. 2003. The positive results of Asylum and Migration. The Hague, Netherlands: Prince Claus Fund. 2004. Humour & Satire. The Hague, Netherlands: Prince Claus Fund. 2005. 10 years Prince Claus Awards. The Hague, Netherlands: Prince Claus Fund. 2006. ThemeThe winners of the 1997 awards embody the policy aims of the Prince Claus Fund: Exceptional work in the field of culture and development in Asia, Latin America and notably in Africa.
LaureatesThe Zimbabwe International Book Fair (Principal Award)Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) (Senegal)Index on Censorship (United Kingdom), organization for the freedom of speechMalangatana Ngwenya (Mozambique), artist painter and poetJoseph Hanson Kwabena Nketia (Ghana), ethnomusicologist and composerSardono Waluyo Kusumo (Indonesia), choreographer, dancer and film makerBruno Stagno (Chile/Costa Rica), architectJim Supangkat (Indonesia), sculptor, art critic and curatorAbdeljelil Temimi (Tunisia), historianErnest Wamba dia Wamba (D.R. Congo/Tanzania), political philosopherCommitteeAdriaan van der Staay, Lolle Nauta, Anil Ramdas.
Theme"The Art of African Fashion"
LaureatesAlphadi (Niger) (Principal Award), fashion designerOumou Sy (Senegal) (Principal Award), fashion designerTetteh Adzedu (Ghana) (Principal Award), fashion designerRakhshan Bani-E'temad (Iran), film makerHeri Dono (Indonesia), artist painter, sculptor and installation artistTicio Escobar (Paraguay), art critic, curator and museum directorJyotindra Jain (India), art and culture scientistJean-Baptiste Kiéthéga (Burkina Faso), archeologist and historianDavid Koloane (South Africa), visual artist and curatorBaaba Maal (Senegal), singerCarlos Monsiváis (Mexico), writer, philosopher and journalistRedza Piyadasa (Malaysia), artist and art criticRogelio Salmona (Colombia), architectKumar Shahani (India), film makerTian Zhuangzhuang (China), film makerNazik Saba Yared (Lebanon), writer, essayist and literature criticCommitteeAdriaan van der Staay, Charles Correa, Emile Fallaux, Mai Ghoussoub, Gaston Kaboré, Gerardo Mosquera.
Theme"Creating Spaces of Freedom"
LaureatesMohand Fellag (France/Algeria) (Principal Award), comedian, actor and writerVitral (Cuba) (Principal Award), socio-cultural magazineAl Jazeera (Qatar) (Principal Award), independent television networkPatrick Chamoiseau (Martinique), writerPaulin J. Hountondji (Benin), philosopherCildo Meireles (Brazil), sculptor, installation and conceptual artistPepetela (Angola), witerDessalegn Rahmato (Ethiopia), sociologistJuana Marta Rodas and Julia Isídrez (Paraguay), ceramics artistsClaudia Roden (United Kingdom/Egypt), cookery book writerCheick Oumar Sissoko (Mali), film makerTsai Chih Chung (Taiwan), cartoonist, comic strip artist and cartoon film makerKen Yeang (Malaysia), architectCommitteeAdriaan van der Staay, Charles Correa, Emile Fallaux, Mai Ghoussoub, Gaston Kaboré, Gerardo Mosquera.
Theme"Urban Heroes"
LaureatesJaime Lerner (Brazil) (Principal Award), architectViva Rio (Brazil) (Principal Award), social work peace organizationFrancisco Toledo (Mexico) (Principal Award), artist painterBush Radio (South Africa), independent radiostationCommunalism Combat (India), human rights organizationCui Jian (China), singer-songwriter, trumpeter, guitarist and film actorFilm Resource Unit (South Africa), independent film distributorArif Hasan (Pakistan), architect, urban planner, socio-philosopher and poetBhupen Khakhar (India), visual artistKomal Kothari (India), ethnomusicologistWerewere Liking (Ivory Coast), art painter, film maker and writerAyu Utami (Indonesia), radio broadcaster and writerVan Leo (Egypt), photographerCommitteeAdriaan van der Staay, Charles Correa, Emile Fallaux, Mai Ghoussoub, Gaston Kaboré, Gerardo Mosquera, Bruno Stagno.
Theme"Carnival"
LaureatesSummer Carnival, Rotterdam (Netherlands) (Principal Award), Caribbean carnivalPeter Minshall, designer (Trinidad) (Principal Award), carnival costume designerChris Abani (Nigeria), writer and poetDuong Thu Huong (Vietnam), writerSamuel Fosso (Cameroon), photographerJahan-e Ketab (Iran), literary magazineMiri Maftun (Afghanistan), ethnomusicologistAntun Maqdisi (Syria), political philosopherIbrahim el-Salahi (Sudan/United Kingdom), artist painterElena Rivera Mirano (United States, Philippines), singer, choir leader and musicologistTalingo (Panama), cultural magazineIván Thays (Peru), writerCommitteeAdriaan van der Staay, Charles Correa, Mai Ghoussoub, Gaston Kaboré, Gerardo Mosquera, Bruno Stagno.
Theme"Languages and transcultural forms of expression"
LaureatesMohamed Chafik (Morocco) (Principal Award), writerMarcelo Araúz Lavadenz (Bolivia), festival director, cultural promoter and choir leaderAli Farzat (Syria), cartoonistFerreira Gullar (Brazil), writer and art criticAmira Hass (Israel), writerInstitute for Islamic and Social Studies (Indonesia), human rights organization and study centerVirginia Pérez-Ratton (Costa Rica), artist, art critic and curatorYoussou N'Dour (Senegal), singerWalter Tournier (Uruguay), animation film makerWu Liangyong (China), town-plannerCommitteeAdriaan van der Staay, Sadiq Jalal al-Azm, Aracy Amaral, Goenawan Mohamad, Pedro Pimenta, Claudia Roden, Bruno Stagno.
Theme"The Survival and Innovation of Crafts"
LaureatesWang Shixiang (China) (Principal Award), art collector and poetThe 2002 Arab Human Development Report from notably Nader Fergany (Egypt)Mathare Youth Sports Association (Kenya), development aid organizationCarlinhos Brown (Brazil), singer-songwriter and percussionistLita Stantic (Argentina), film makerDistrict Six Museum (South Africa), museum on apartheid in South AfricaHasan Saltık (Turkey), music producerMick Pearce (Zimbabwe), architectReyum Institute of Arts and Culture (Cambodia), art and culture instituteG. N. Devy (India), tribal researcher, writer and literary criticYovita Meta (Indonesia), fashion designer and artisanCommitteeAdriaan van der Staay, Aracy Amaral, Sadik Al-Azm, Goenawan Mohamad, Pedro Pimenta, Claudia Roden, Bruno Stagno.
Theme"The positive results of Asylum and Migration"
LaureatesMahmoud Darwish (Palestine) (Principal Award), poet and writerJawad al-Assadi (Iraq), theater maker and poetTin Moe (Burma), poetIvaldo Bertazzo (Brazil), dancer and choreographerBhutan Archery Federation (Bhutan), cultural archery societyHalet Çambel (Turkey), archeologistOmara Khan Massoudi (Afghanistan), museum directorMemoria Abierta (Argentina), human rights organizationFarroukh Qasim (Tajikistan), theater makerAminata Traoré (Mali), writer and political activistCommitteeAdriaan van der Staay, Aracy Amaral, Sadik Al-Azm, Goenawan Mohamad, Pedro Pimenta, Claudia Roden, Bruno Stagno.
Theme"Humour and Satire"
LaureatesJonathan Shapiro, alias Zapiro (South Africa) (Principal Award), cartoonistLenin El-Ramly (Egypt), writer and directorSlamet Gundono (Indonesia), wayang puppeteer and artistEdgar Langeveldt (Zimbabwe), stand-up comedian, sinter-songwriter and actorMichael Poghosyan (Armenia), actor, singer and cabaret performerJoaquín Salvador Lavado, alias Quino (Argentina), cartoonist and comic strip artistEbrahim Nabavi (Iran), writer and satiristChéri Samba (D.R. Congo), artist painterNiède Guidon (Brazil), archeologistAbdul Sheriff (Tanzania), museum directorOpiyo Okach (Kenya), dancer and choreographerCommitteeNiek Biegman, Aracy Amaral, Sadik Al-Azm, Goenawan Mohamad, Pedro Pimenta, Claudia Roden, Mick Pearce.
Theme"10 years Prince Claus Awards" (recapitulating visual arts, writing and publishing, theater, cultural education and debate, cultural heritage and education)
LaureatesReza Abedini (Iran) (Principal Award), graphical artist and art criticLida Abdul (Afghanistan), visual artist, videographer and photographerChristine Tohmé (Lebanon), curator and art promoterErna Brodber (Jamaica), writer and sociologistHenry Chakava (Kenya), publisherFrankétienne (Haiti), writer, poet, dramatist, musician and artist painterMadeeha Gauhar (Pakistan), actress, writer, theater maker and women rights activistMichael Mel (Papua New Guinea), art scientist, curator, philosopher, musician and playwrightCommittee for Relevant Art (Nigeria), art platformAl Kamandjâti Association (Palestine), musical development organizationNational Museum of Mali, archeological and ethnological museumCommittee Selma Al-Radi, Manthia Diawara, Pablo Ortiz Monasterio, Amitav Ghosh, Virginia Pérez-Ratton, Mick Pearce, Niek Biegman.
Theme"Culture and Conflict"
LaureatesFaustin Linyekula (D.R. Congo) (Principal Award), dancer and choreographerPatricia Ariza (Colombia), poet and actressAugusto Boal (Brazil), theater makerEmily Jacir (Palestine), visual artistHollis Liverpool, alias Chalkdust (British Virgin Islands), calypso singer and writerSudanese Writers Union (Sudan)Ars Aevi (Bosnia and Herzegovina), museum of artOscar Hagerman (Mexico), architect and designerHarutyun Khachatryan (Armenia), film makerGodfrey Mwampembwa, alias Gado (Kenya), cartoonistRadio Isanganiro (Burundi), human rights promoter and radio stationCommitteePeter Geschiere, Manthia Diawara, Pablo Ortiz Monasterio, Mick Pearce, Virginia Pérez-Ratton, Selma Al-Radi.
Theme"Culture and the Human Body"
LaureatesMamoni Raisom Goswami (India) (Principal Award), writer and poetLi Xianting (China), art criticGanchugiyn Purevbat (Mongolia), artist painter, museum director and lamaOusmane Sow (Senegal), sculptorDayanita Singh (India), photographerElia Suleiman (Palestine), film makerJames Iroha Uchechukwu (Nigeria), photographerTania Bruguera (Cuba), visual artistMa Ke (China), fashion designerJeanguy Saintus (Haiti), dancer and choreographerCarlos Henríquez Consalvi (Venezuela/El Salvador), radio broadcaster and museum directorTheme« Culture and Nature »
LaureatesSimón Vélez - (Colombia) (Principal Award), architectEl Anatsui - (Ghana), sculptorDoual'art - (Cameroon), art organizationLiang Shaoji - (China), conceptual artistJivya Soma Mashe - (India), visual artistSammy Baloji - (D.R. Congo), photographerSantu Mofokeng - (South Africa), photographerKanak Dixit - (Nepal), publisher and writerInstitute of History of Nicaragua and Central America - (Nicaragua)Desiderio Navarro - (Cuba), art and culture criticGastón Acurio - (Peru), cook and gastronomistTheme« Borders to reality »
LaureatesBarzakh Editions (Algeria) (Principal Award), independent publisherDecolonizing Architecture institute (DAi, Palestine), architectonic instituteJia Zhangke (China), film maker, actor and writerKwani Trust (Kenya), literary platform and magazineAna Maria Machado (Brazil), painter and writerYoani Sánchez (Cuba), blogger and human rights activistMaya Goded (Mexico), photographerKasmalieva & Djumaliev (Kyrgyzstan), visual artist coupleDinh Q. Lê (Vietnam), visual artist and photographerMehrdad Oskouei (Iran), documentary makerAung Zaw (Thailand), publisherTheme« Breaking taboos »
LaureatesNtone Edjabe for Chimurenga (Pan-Africa) (Principal Award), DJ, writer and publisherSaid Atabekov, (Kazakhstan), visual artist, videographer and photographerThe Book Café, (Zimbabwe), platform for free cultural expressionNidia Bustos, (Nicaragua), cultural activist and theatre directorRena Effendi, (Azerbaijan), photographerRegina José Galindo, (Guatemala), body and performance artistIlkhom Theatre, (Uzbekistan), independent theaterKettly Mars, (Haiti), poet and writerRabih Mroué, (Lebanon), theater maker and visual artistRiwaq, (Palestine), architectonic organizationWoeser, (Tibet; China), writer, poet and bloggerTheme
«Frontiers of Reality »
LaureatesEloísa Cartonera (Argentina) (Principal Award), co-operation of designers and writersSami Ben Gharbia, (Tunisia), internet activistHabiba Djahnine, (Algeria), film producer, film festival curator and essayistYassin al-Haj Saleh, (Syria), writer and dissidentWidad Kawar, (Jordan), collector and researcher of Arab clothing and jewelleryTeresa Margolles, (Mexico), photographer, videographer and performance artistBoniface Mwangi, (Kenya), press photographer and peace activistPhare Ponleu Selpak, (Cambodia), cultural community organizationIan Randle, (Jamaica), independent publisherMaung Thura, alias Zarganar, (Burma), comedian and film makerMohamed Ibrahim Warsame, alias Hadraawi, (Somaliland/Somalia), poet and songwriterLaureatesAhmed Fouad Negm, (Egypt) (Principal Award), poet and criticAlejandro Zambra, (Chile), writerCarla Fernández, (Mexico), fashion designer and cultural historianChristopher Cozier, (Trinidad and Tobago), multi-media artist and cultural activatorIdrissou Mora-Kpaï, (Benin), documentary filmmakerLu Guang, (China), photographerNaiza Khan, (Pakistan), visual artistOrquesta de Instrumentos Recyclados de Cateura, (Paraguay), youth orchestraÓscar Muñoz, (Colombia), visual artistTeater Garasi, (Indonesia), performing artsZanele Muholi, (South Africa), photographer and visual activistLaureatesIgnacio Agüero (Chile), (Principal Award), filmmakerRosina Cazali, (Guatemala), writer and curatorLav Diaz, (Philippines), filmmakerFX Harsono, (Indonesia), visual artistGülsün Karamustafa, (Turkey), visual artistTran Luong, (Vietnam), media artistMuseo Itinerante de Arte por la Memoria, (Peru), art collectiveLia Rodrigues, (Brasil), choreographerSPARROW Sound & Picture Archives for Research on Women, (India), women's archiveLaureatesNewsha Tavakolian (Iran), (Principal Award), photojournalistLatif Al-Ani (Iraq), photographerAmakhosi (Zimbabwe), community-oriented theatre group and cultural hubJelili Atiku (Nigeria), performance artistJean Pierre Bekolo (Cameroon), filmmakerETCETERA (Argentina/Chile), art collectivePerhat Khaliq (China), musician and singer-songwriterFatos Lubonja (Albania), author, editor and public intellectualOssama Mohammed (Syria), filmmakerOksana Shatalova (Kazakhstan), visual artist and curatorY'en A Marre (Senegal), collective of young musicians and journalistsCommitteeBregtje van der Haak, Suad Amiry, Salah Hassan, Kettly Mars, Ong Ken Sen, Gabriela Salgado
LaureatesApichatpong Weerasethakul (Thailand), (Principal Award), filmmakerKamal Mouzawak (Lebanon), chef and food activistThe Second Floor (T2F) (Pakistan), interdisciplinary cultural centreBahia Shehab (Egypt/Lebanon), graphic designer, artist, educatorLa Silla Vacía (The Empty Chair) (Colombia), interactive online portalVo Trong Nghia (Vietnam), architectCommitteeEmile Fallaux, Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, Dinh Q Lê, Visual Artist, Neo Muyanga, Manuel de Rivero, Suely Rolnik
